by Andrija Mandić

    Strategically situated on the Balkan coast, Montenegro is a reliable ally of the United States in a time of global realignment.

    In an era of rising global tensions and a redefinition of international alliances, Montenegro sees a strategic partnership with the United States as its top priority. For both countries, this partnership represents a sound and pragmatic foreign policy choice.

    Granted, my home country is not at the top of America’s foreign policy agenda. But that is precisely why Montenegro offers a simple yet secure and mutually beneficial path.

    Small in size, Montenegro is located at a pivotal geopolitical juncture in the Western Balkans, a region historically shaped by great power competition. On a clear reform path toward EU accession and with longstanding ties to the United States, Montenegro stands out as a dependable ally committed to democracy, free markets, national sovereignty and robust security cooperation.

    In line with the foreign policy direction signaled by President Donald Trump and his team, which emphasizes bilateral partnerships and interest-based diplomacy, Montenegro aspires to deepen its alliance with the United States in the years to come. Here, it is crucial to highlight that Montenegro is one of the few countries within the collective defense system that is fully committed and steadily moving toward the NATO goal of allocating 5 percent of its GDP to defense spending. Year on year, we’ve already raised that allocation from 2 to 3 percent.

    Montenegro is firmly committed to expanding economic cooperation in critical infrastructure and development projects with partners worldwide. Our forthcoming EU membership will open access to the world’s largest single market. Yet, this does not diminish our commitment to strengthening ties beyond Europe. A recent agreement on capital infrastructure and tourist investment with the United Arab Emirates, ratified by the Montenegrin Parliament, which I have the honor of presiding over, illustrates our dedication to stable and diversified partnerships with key global players.

    Montenegro’s responsible, outward-looking approach opens an avenue for the closest possible cooperation with the United States, as a potentially indispensable partner for Montenegro in similar future ventures.

    President Trump enjoys high popularity in Montenegro and public support for stronger ties with the United States is consistently positive. With its stunning Adriatic coastline and rugged northern mountains, Montenegro offers vast potential for tourism investment, while its rich natural resources and hydropower capacity invite collaboration in the energy sector.

    The strategic energy cooperation agreement, which the United States signed with our neighbor Serbia last year, could serve as a model for replicating similar cooperation with Montenegro. The relatively balanced trade relationship between our two countries further demonstrates that Montenegro seeks equitable partnerships, rather than one-sided dependency, which is a sound foundation for deeper economic ties. That exchange must now expand significantly, to the benefit of both nations.

    Montenegro’s foreign policy direction is clear and unwavering, which eliminates geopolitical risks for our partners and investors. At the same time, we remain open to strategic engagement with partners beyond the Euro-Atlantic space. Our recent agreement with the UAE aligns with the U.S. emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, underscored by President Trump’s recent visit. Strengthening US-Montenegro economic ties would reinforce this trajectory.

    A reliable strategic partnership also demands strong institutions and the rule of law. In 2023, Montenegrin voters ended the nearly three-decade-long rule of the corrupt and autocratic regime of Milo Djukanovic, effectively breaking with both that legacy and the remnants of more than fifty years under a communist Yugoslavian regime.

    Since then, Montenegro has been progressing in reforms at a high speed, exemplified by the clear EU membership perspective, after a long delay in the member candidate “waiting room.” In this new era of responsible governance, we also want to be a trustworthy partner for American institutions. Crucially, we aim to deepen parliamentary cooperation between the Montenegrin Parliament and the US Congress on the institutional level.

    History and shared values also strengthen our partnership. Montenegro (whether as an independent kingdom or a republic within Yugoslavia) stood with the Allies in both World Wars, shoulder to shoulder with the United States. Our armed forces have worked closely with the Maine National Guard for nearly two decades. Although the scars of NATO’s 1999 bombing remain and that episode represents a painful chapter for us, Montenegro recognizes that our broader historical relationship with the United States spans generations of closeness and far outweighs a single moment of discord.

    Many prominent Americans trace their roots to Montenegro—from NBA coach Gregg Popovich to Mark Brnovich, the former Arizona Attorney General and current US ambassador-designate to Serbia. Shared values also run deep: like the United States, Montenegro is strongly committed to the protection of religious freedoms, which were substantially endangered by the previous regime of Milo Djukanovic.

    Montenegro is a multiethnic and multireligious society. As president of Montenegro’s parliament, I have worked to build consensus across party and identity lines, securing broad support for key policies. In this sense, the US Congress serves as an inspiring model, considering that it successfully brings together diverse states and districts to pursue a unified national interest. I am keenly aware that in order to succeed, policy must adapt and respond to the changing needs of our citizens.

    Today, Montenegro offers a unique blend of political stability, reform momentum and strategic alignment with U.S. foreign policy interests. Our strategic partnership is natural and genuine, not only in terms of shared values but also in practical alignment with the American approach of cultivating bilateral ties with dependable partners and promoting economic sovereignty. In that context, Montenegro—an ally by tradition and a reformer by choice—is ready to take the next step in deepening its political, security and energy cooperation with the United States.

    We invite you to get to know us. Come to the Balkans and discover a rich history of our nation, which proudly resisted Ottoman conquest and fought fiercely for freedom, just as it continues to fight today for development and progress. 

    We welcome you to our ski resorts in the north of the country, to hike around Biograd and Skadar Lakes, go rafting in the Tara Canyon, or to relax along the Adriatic’s most stunning shores—from the Bay of Kotor to the beaches of Ulcinj. And we look forward to seeing you in Texas diners, on Colorado slopes, along the Maine coast, and, above all, in the halls of Congress in Washington. We seek cooperation with America’s institutions and its people. See you soon!